Duke Min

（傳）潰者何？下叛上也。國曰潰，邑曰叛。

(Commentary) What does "collapsed" mean? It means those below rebelled against those above. For a state it is called "collapse" and for a city it is called "rebellion."

（經四二）遂伐楚，次於陘。

(Classic 42) Then they attacked Chu and were stationed at Xing.

（傳）其言次於陘何？有俟也。孰俟？俟屈完也。

(Commentary) Why is "stationed at Xing" written? It means they were waiting for someone. Waiting for whom? Waiting for Qu Wan.

（經四三）夏，許男新臣卒。楚屈完來盟於師，盟於召陵。

(Classic 43) In summer, Xin Chen, Baron of Xu, died. Qu Wan of Chu came to the army to covenant, and they made a covenant at Zhaoling.

（傳）屈完者何？楚大夫也。何以不稱使？尊屈完也。曷為尊屈完？以當桓公也。其言盟於師、盟於召陵何？師在召陵也。師在召陵，則曷為再言盟？喜服楚也。何言乎喜服楚？楚有王者則後服，無王者則先叛。夷狄也，而亟病中國，南夷與北狄交。中國不絕若線，桓公救中國，而攘夷狄，卒帖荊，以此為王者之事也。其言來何？與桓為主也。前此者有事矣，後此者有事矣，則曷為獨於此焉？與桓公為主，序績也。

(Commentary) Who was Qu Wan? A grandee of Chu. Why is "sent" not written? It honors Qu Wan. Why honor Qu Wan? It makes him equal to Duke Huan. Why is "covenant with the army, covenant at Zhaoling" written? Because the army was at Zhaoling. Since the army was at Zhaoling, why say "covenant" again? It expresses delight at subduing Chu. Why delight at subduing Chu? If Chu had a true king, it submitted late; if not, it rebelled first. They were originally barbarians, yet again and again they harmed the central plain, with the southern Yi and northern Di pressing in turn. The central plain hung by a thread, and Duke Huan rescued the central plain and drove off the barbarians, finally subduing Jing, and this is taken as the work of a king. Why is "came" written? It makes Duke Huan the host. There were affairs before this and affairs after this; why single this one out? Making Duke Huan the host lists his achievements.

（經四四）齊人執陳袁濤塗。

(Classic 44) The men of Qi seized Yuan Taotu of Chen.

（傳）濤塗之罪何？闢軍之道也。其闢軍之道奈何？濤塗謂桓公曰：「君既服南夷矣，何不還師濱海而東，服東夷且歸？」桓公曰：「諾。」於是還師濱海而東，大陷於沛澤之中。顧而執濤塗。執者曷為或稱侯？或稱人？稱侯而執者，伯討也。稱人而執者，非伯討也。此執有罪，何以不得為伯討？古者周公東征則西國怨，西征則東國怨。桓公假塗於陳而伐楚，則陳人不欲其反由己者，師不正故也。不修其師而執濤塗，古人之討，則不然也。

(Commentary) What was Taotu's offense? Avoiding the road of the great army. How did he avoid the road of the great army? Taotu said to Duke Huan: "Your Lordship has already subdued the southern Yi; why not return the army along the coast to the east, subdue the eastern Yi, and then go back?" Duke Huan said: "Good." So he turned the army along the sea to the east and sank deeply into marshes. Turning back, he seized Taotu. In seizing people, why is sometimes "Marquis" written and sometimes "men"? When "Marquis" is written for a seizure, it is a hegemon punishing a crime; when "men" is written, it is not a hegemon punishing a crime. This was the seizure of a guilty man; why can it still not count as a hegemon punishing a crime? In ancient times when the Duke of Zhou campaigned east, the western states complained; when he campaigned west, the eastern states complained. Duke Huan borrowed the road from Chen to attack Chu, but the men of Chen did not want him to pass through them again on his return, because the army was not upright. Not putting his own army in order and yet seizing Taotu is not how the ancients punished.

（經四五）秋，及江人、黃人伐陳。八月，公至自伐楚。

(Classic 45) In autumn, together with the men of Jiang and Huang he attacked Chen. In the eighth month, Duke Xi returned from the army that had attacked Chu.

（傳）楚已服矣，何以致伐楚？叛盟也。

(Commentary) Chu had already submitted; why is "returned from the attack on Chu" written? Because the other side had broken the covenant.

（經四六）葬許繆公。冬，十有二月，公孫慈帥師會齊人、宋人、衛人、鄭人、許人、曹人侵陳。

(Classic 46) Duke Mu of Xu was buried. In winter, the twelfth month, Gongsun Ci led an army and joined the men of Qi, Song, Wei, Zheng, Xu and Cao in invading Chen.

春，晉侯殺其世子申生。

In spring, the Marquis of Jin killed his heir Shensheng.

（傳）曷為直稱晉侯以殺？殺世子母弟直稱君者，甚之也。

(Commentary) Why is the Marquis of Jin named directly in recording the killing? In killing a crown prince or full brother, naming the ruler directly makes the matter heavy.

（經五二）杞伯姬來朝其子。

(Classic 52) Bo Ji of Qi came to court with her son.

（傳）其言來朝其子何？內辭也，與其子俱來朝也。

(Commentary) Why is "came to court her son" written? This is Lu's own wording, meaning she came to court together with her son.

（經五三）夏，公孫慈如牟。公及齊侯、宋公、陳侯、衛侯、鄭伯、許男、曹伯會王世子於首戴。

(Classic 53) In summer, Gongsun Ci went to Mou. Duke Xi, with the Marquis of Qi, the Duke of Song, the Marquis of Chen, the Marquis of Wei, the Earl of Zheng, the Baron of Xu and the Earl of Cao, met the king's heir at Shoudai.

（傳）曷為殊會王世子？世子貴也。世子，猶世世子也。

(Commentary) Why is the meeting with the king's heir singled out? Because the heir is honored. The heir is one who is a son generation after generation.

（經五四）秋，八月，諸侯盟於首戴。

(Classic 54) In autumn, the eighth month, the lords made a covenant at Shoudai.

（傳）諸侯何以不序？一事而再見者，前目而後凡也。

(Commentary) Why are the lords not listed one by one? When the same matter reappears, the earlier mention lists them and the later one summarizes.

（經五五）鄭伯逃歸不盟。

(Classic 55) The Earl of Zheng fled back and did not take part in the covenant.

（傳）其言逃歸不盟者何？不可使盟也。不可使盟，則其言逃歸何？魯子曰：「蓋不以寡犯眾也。」

(Commentary) Why is "fled back and did not covenant" written? There was no way to make him covenant. Since there was no way to make him covenant, why is "fled back" written? Master Lu said: "Probably because one does not use the few to offend the many."

（經五六）楚人滅弦。弦子奔黃。

(Classic 56) The men of Chu destroyed Xian. The Viscount of Xian fled to Huang.

（經五七）九月戊申朔，日有食之。

(Classic 57) In the ninth month, on the first day, wushen, there was a solar eclipse.

（經五八）冬，晉人執虞公。

(Classic 58) In winter, the men of Jin seized the Duke of Yu.

（傳）虞已滅矣，其言執之何？不與滅也。曷為不與滅？滅者亡國之善辭也。滅者，上下之同力者也。

(Commentary) Yu had already been destroyed; why is "seized" written? It does not approve of using "destroyed." Why not approve of using "destroyed"? "Destroyed" is the better wording for the ruin of a state. "Destroyed" means high and low were of one heart and joined strength.

春，王正月。

In spring, the first month of the Zhou calendar.

（經六二）夏，公會齊侯、宋公、陳侯、衛侯、曹伯伐鄭，圍新城。

(Classic 62) In summer, Duke Xi joined the Marquis of Qi, the Duke of Song, the Marquis of Chen, the Marquis of Wei and the Earl of Cao in attacking Zheng and besieging Xincheng.

（傳）邑不言圍，此其言圍何？強也。

(Commentary) For a city "besieged" is normally not written; here "besieged" is written; why? It is aggression.

（經六三）秋，楚人圍許，諸侯遂救許。

(Classic 63) In autumn, the men of Chu besieged Xu, and the lords then rescued Xu.

（經六四）冬，公至自伐鄭。

(Classic 64) In winter, Duke Xi returned from the army that had attacked Zheng.

春，齊人伐鄭。

In spring, the men of Qi attacked Zheng.

（經七二）夏，小邾婁子來朝。鄭殺其大夫申侯。

(Classic 72) In summer, the Viscount of Xiao Zhulou came to court. Zheng killed their grandee Shen Hou.

（傳）其稱國以殺何？稱國以殺者，君殺大夫之辭也。

(Commentary) Why is the state named in recording a killing? Naming the state in recording a killing is the wording for a ruler killing a grandee.

（經七三）秋，七月，公會齊侯、宋公、陳世子款、鄭世子華，盟於寧毋。

(Classic 73) In autumn, the seventh month, Duke Xi joined the Marquis of Qi, the Duke of Song, Kuan, heir of Chen, and Hua, heir of Zheng, in a covenant at Ningmu.

（經七四）曹伯般卒。

(Classic 74) Ban, Earl of Cao, died.

（經七五）公子友如齊。

(Classic 75) Prince You went to Qi.

（經七六）冬，葬曹昭公。

(Classic 76) In winter, Duke Zhao of Cao was buried.

春，王正月，公會王人、齊侯、宋公、衛侯、許男、曹伯、陳世子款、鄭世子華，盟於洮。

In spring, the first month of the Zhou calendar, Duke Xi joined the king's men, the Marquis of Qi, the Duke of Song, the Marquis of Wei, the Baron of Xu, the Earl of Cao, Kuan, heir of Chen, and Hua, heir of Zheng, in a covenant at Tao.

（傳）王人者何？微者也。曷為序乎諸侯之上？先王命也。

(Commentary) Who are "the king's men"? They are of low rank. Why are they listed above the lords? Because the king's command is placed first.

（經八二）鄭伯乞盟。

(Classic 82) The Earl of Zheng requested to take part in the covenant.

（傳）乞盟者何？處其所而請與也。其處其所而請與奈何？蓋酌之也。

(Commentary) What does "begged to covenant" mean? It means staying in his own place and requesting to join. What is staying in one's own place and requesting to join like? Probably the covenant wine was poured over and given to him.

（經八三）夏，狄伐晉。

(Classic 83) In summer, the Di attacked Jin.

（經八四）秋，七月，禘於太廟，用致夫人。

(Classic 84) In autumn, the seventh month, a di sacrifice was held in the Grand Temple in order to install the lady.

（傳）用者何？用者不宜用也。致者何？致者不宜致也。禘用致夫人，非禮也。夫人何以不稱姜氏？貶。曷為貶？譏以妾為妻也。其言以妾為妻奈何？蓋脅於齊媵女之先至者也。

(Commentary) What does "used" mean? Using the word "used" shows it should not have been used. What does "install" mean? Using the word "install" shows it should not have been installed. Using the di sacrifice to install the lady was improper. Why is the lady not called Jiang? It is a demotion. Why demoted? It criticizes making a concubine a wife. How was a concubine made a wife? Probably under pressure from a bridal escort who had arrived earlier from Qi.

（經八五）冬，十有二月丁未，天王崩。

(Classic 85) In winter, the twelfth month, dingwei, the Son of Heaven died.

春，王三月丁丑，宋公御說卒。

In spring, the third month of the Zhou calendar, dingchou, Yushuo, Duke of Song, died.

（傳）何以不書葬？為襄公諱也。

(Commentary) Why is the burial not recorded? To avoid mentioning it on behalf of Duke Xiang.

（經九二）夏，公會宰周公、齊侯、宋子、衛侯、鄭伯、許男、曹伯於葵丘。

(Classic 92) In summer, Duke Xi met the Chief Minister Duke of Zhou, the Marquis of Qi, the Viscount of Song, the Marquis of Wei, the Earl of Zheng, the Baron of Xu and the Earl of Cao at Kuiqiu.

（傳）宰周公者何？天子之為政者也。

(Commentary) Who was the Chief Minister Duke of Zhou? The one who governed on behalf of the Son of Heaven.

（經九三）秋，七月乙酉，伯姬卒。

(Classic 93) In autumn, the seventh month, yiyou, Bo Ji died.

（傳）此未適人，何以卒？許嫁矣。婦人許嫁，字而笄之，死則以成人之喪治之。

(Commentary) This person had not yet married; why is her death recorded? Because she had already been betrothed. When a woman is betrothed, she is given a courtesy name and the hairpin, and on death she is mourned as an adult.

（經九四）九月戊辰，諸侯盟於葵丘。

(Classic 94) In the ninth month, wuchen, the lords made a covenant at Kuiqiu.

（傳）桓之盟不日，此何以日？危之也。何危爾？貫澤之會，桓公有憂中國之心，不召而至者，江人、黃人也。葵丘之會，桓公震而矜之，叛者九國。震之者何？猶曰振振然。矜之者何？猶曰莫若我也。

(Commentary) Duke Huan's covenants are not recorded by day; why is the day recorded here? It is out of concern for him. Concern about what? At the meeting at Guanze, Duke Huan had a heart concerned for the central plain, and those who came without being summoned were the men of Jiang and Huang. At this meeting at Kuiqiu, Duke Huan was stirred and proud, and nine states rebelled. What does "stirred" mean? It is like saying his spirit was swollen. What does "proud" mean? It is like saying nobody could match me.

（經九五）甲戌，晉侯詭諸卒。冬，晉裡克弒其君之子奚齊。

(Classic 95) Jiaxu: Guizhu, Marquis of Jin, died. In winter, Li Ke of Jin murdered Xiqi, the son of his ruler.

（傳）此未逾年之君，其言弒其君之子奚齊何？殺未逾年君之號也。

(Commentary) This was a ruler who had not yet passed the year; why is "murdered the son of his ruler, Xiqi" written? This is the title used for killing a ruler who has not yet passed the year.